Close the doors of your evil schools

During his jurisprudence class at Qom’s Grand Mosque, Grand Ayatollah Naser Makarem-Shirazi condemned the recent attack on Imam Ali (A) Mosque in the eastern Saudi Arabian town of al-Qadih, saying that the whole world has condemned this crime, including Saudi politicians and scholars. “How can they assume that the people of the world will remain unaware [of who the true perpetrators are?]” he asked.

His Eminence stressed that Wahhabism is the root cause of all crimes against Shi’a Muslims, adding that Saudi high school textbooks mention explicitly that making pilgrimage to shrines is considered “polytheism” and taking the life and property of those who enjoin such acts is permissible. He added that Wahhabis consider Sunnis who make pilgrimage to the shrines of holy personalities as polytheists.

Ayatollah Makarem-Shirazi explained that even though Saudi textbooks are full of lessons teaching hatred, they still openly condemn these actions. “Close the doors of these evil schools as it is from there that these evil teachings are emanating from!” he said addressing the Saudi authorities.

On November 3, 2014, masked gunmen stormed a group of Shia Muslims participating in a ceremony marking the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hussein (PBUH), the third Shia Imam, in the village of al-Dalwah in al-Ahsa Governorate of Eastern Province, and opened fire as people were observing the rituals of Ashura, the 10th day of the lunar month of Muharram.Ayatollah Makarem wondered how Saudi clerics and muftis who call themselves religious scholars and muftis can be so careless in regard to the roots of this incident.

The renowned source of emulation stressed that we are currently witnessing the worst period of human history and there have never been any darker days than in the current era.

In conclusion, Ayatollah Makarem-Shirazi emphasized again that he strongly condemns this repulsive and agonizing crime against the Shi’a people who are suffering under the Saudi regime.

He also prayed that God Almighty cut off the roots of the Takfiri ideology during the blessed and holy month of Sha’ban.